It’s been a Tartan takeover on day one of the Open de Espana with Scots Connor Syme and Grant Forrest sharing the lead with injured Spanish hero Engenio Chacarra after day one of the event being hosted at the Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in the Spanish capital.
The trio posted five-under 66s and with Syme off to a flyer with five birdies in his opening eight holes while Forrest birdieing three of his closing five holes.
Though it was triple Tour winning Chararra very much thrilling the home crowd in eagling the par-5 seventh and also the par-5 14th holes as he looks to capture a third success of 2026 for the reigning KLM Open and DS Automobiles Open d’Italia champion.
TARTAN TAKEOVER DAY ONE #OpenEspana …
As duo @connor_syme & @grantforrest93 enjoy three-way share of the lead post first round with double 2026 winning Spaniard Engenio Chacarra who’s playing with a broken toe
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✅ @TOURMISS
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) October 8, 2026
The Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid is particularly close to where Chacarra was raised is just another incentive, and the 26-year-old revealed this event has long been circled on his calendar, with plenty of friends and family set to line the fairways in the Spanish capital.
Fate almost had other ideas, however, with a midnight trip for a drink sending the three-time DP World Tour winner to the physio just seven days before the start of the event in bizarre breaking a toe.
“I got back from Fance to the States on Tuesday morning and Thursday night I woke up in the middle of the night to go and get some water,” he said.
“I had all the luggage in the middle of the living room and it was dark and I didn’t really see and I went walking and hit the corner of the sofa and it was bad luck that I had a fracture in the bone of my third toe and a little tear in my second toe.
“So it’s been a struggle for the last four or five days but I think it’s getting better. I’ve got my physio and my doctor working on it big time to be able to play this week, it’s a really important week for me so we’re trying to figure out what it hurts and what not.
A tough day physically for Eugenio Chacarra despite a strong opening round of 66 (-5).
Hear from the Spaniard as he reflects on his round and looks ahead to tomorrow
“It’s not good, suffering a lot. It’s been tough, not sure what is going to happen tomorrow. I need to take care of myself. Obviously I got a good round but how I feel physically is not great.
“It doesn’t hurt when I’m swinging, so I can still make a score but it’s been really tough to walk.
“The pain I had on the last 12 holes, I don’t know if it is worth it as I have a lot to play the next couple of weeks.
“I’ve got 24 hours to rest and see how it feels in the morning. I’ve got a lot to play for, I’ve got four weeks that are really important to me.”
#OpenEspana
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 8, 2026
“But it’s good for athletes, you can always play at not 100 so I’m excited for the battle and I will try my best”.
Asked after his round how he felt Chacarra remarked: “It’s not good. I suffered a lot from the 16th hole and it’s been tough. It’s a struggle.
“It doesn’t hurt when I swing, that’s the only good thing. It’s why I can still make a score, but it’s been really tough to walk.
“The pain I had on the last 12 holes, I don’t know if it is worth it as I have a lot to play the next couple of weeks. I’ve got 24 hours to rest and see how it feels in the morning.”
One shot off the lead is Sergio Garcia, who said he has not ruled out future involvement with LIV but his focus is on qualifying for the Ryder Cup.
The record points scorer in the event, the 46-year-old has not represented Europe since 2021, but has told captain Luke Donald that he would like to be involved in Limerick.
“I told [Donald] that I’m going to do everything possible to see if I can get into that team and I also told him that if I don’t get into that team, I’ll help in any way I can.”
